Progressive rocking-horse.



IN.\/E NT: R

3 l EWL NSDN 5/ I FJEL 13y 'WU NE f/Z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. WILKINSON, OF WINOHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10 ARTHUBF.

vans, TRUSTEE CHUSETTS.

1s a specification.

This mvention relates to rocking supports for the human body, usually made to resemble an animal, such as a horse, adapted to be rocked or tilted forward and backward by the rider and constructed to move progressively step by step while rocking.

he invention is embodied in the hereinafter described improvements in a progressively moving rocln'ng horse.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 represents a side view of a rocking horse embodying my invention, tilted backward, a part of the body being broken represents aview similar to Fig, 1, showing the horse at rest; Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary perspective view, showing parts of the front. legs and the steering means detached from the base; Figs. 4 and 5 repre-- views illustrating a sent fragmentary side different embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary perspective view,

7 showing parts of the front legs and the steermg means represented by Figs. 4 and 5; Figs. 7 and 8 represent a portion of one'of the rear rockers and .the roller mounted thereon.

The same reference same or similar arts in all the views.

Referring to igs. 1, 2 and 3, the body 12 of the horse is provided with rigid rear legs 13 having rear. rockersl formed and arranged to support the body in a ba'ckwardly tilted position, as shown by Fig. 1. The front legs 15 are pivoted at 16 to the body characters indicate the v and are adapted to oscillate toward and from the rear rockers. Said front legs are provided with front rockers 17 formed and arranged to cooperate with the rear rockers in v supporting the body at rest, as s'hownby F1 2, said front rockers'permitting the b0 y to be tilted forward far enough to raise the rear rockers slightly from the 'fioor. When the bodyis tilted backward the front rockers are raised from the floor, means being provided-as hereinafter described for swingmg or pro ectmg the front legs forward, said Specification of Letters Patent. Application flied April 29, 1816. Serial N 0. 94,858.

WILKINSON,

. by gravity,

away; Fig. 2 7

OF THE RUNNING PONY COMPANY, OF WINCHENDON, IASBA- PROGRESSIVE ROCKING-HORSE.

. means being operative when the body is tilted In this embodiment of the invenlegs 15, the arrangement being such that when both reins are pulled the front legs are projected simultaneously to the position shown byfull lines inFig. 1. When the reins are loose the front legs are retracted Fig. 1, so that their rockers 17 are normally. in position to form extensions of the rear rockers 14, the horse being adapted to rock without moving progressively. When the rider pulls both reins while the horse is tilted backwardly, the front legs are simultaneously projected as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, the front rockers bein ward from the rear rockers. The next forward tilting movement of the horse causes the front rockers to bear on the floor and slightly raises the'rear rockersle therefrom, thus permitting the body 12 and the rear rockers to swing by gravity on the pivot 16, the rear rockers moving forward toward the front rockers. The body of the horse is thus advanced a short distance on the floor. This operation repeatedly performed causes the horse to move progressively step by step. The front legs are indep so that either may be pro ected and the other allowed to remain in itsnormal position, as

indicated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Provision is therefore made for guiding or steering the horse, the projected front leg coming to a bearing on the floor at one side of the median line, so that the weight of the horse and rider causes the horse to swerve to one side of said line, the horse pivoting on the rear end of the projected front rocker 17 when said end contacts with the floor.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the invention, in which the independently movable front legs, instead of being normally retracted, are normally projected by springs 25, as indicated by Fig. 4, so that when the body is tilted backward the endently movable,

Patented Jan. 9, 191 '7.

as indicated by dotted lines in spaced forfront legs are automatically caused by lines in Fig. 1. 'l he front legs may be retracted by a pull on the reins through suitable connections between the reins and the front legs, said connections as here shown including levers 26 pivoted at 27 to the head of'the horse, and stiff metal rods or struts 28 connecting said levers with the front p by. the springs 25,'the levers stand as shown by Figs. 4 and 6, and when both reins are The body 12 and its adjuncts may obvi legs.

, legs v The reins-18 are connected with the outer ends of the levers 26, and the rods 28 are connected with said levers at points between the inner and outer ends of the latter. When the front legs are projected pulled the levers are moved to the position shown by Fig. 5, thus retracting the through the struts 28. A pull on one rem'only retracts one leg, "leaving the other projected, so that theh'orse may be steered ytilting it forward while one leg is projected and the other retracted.

ously be formed to represent an animal or object other than a horse.

The rockers 14 may be provided with rollers 31 constituting'antifrictional means ar ranged to roll upon the floor when the body is tilting forward. As shown by Figs. 7 and 8, said rollers may be mounted on stub axles -movement in a straight path, or in spendently, one at a time, to cause a progressive movement in a curved path. The straps 21 may therefore be omitted and the horse directed wholly by the feet of the rider, instead of being directed manually, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Havlng described my invention, I claim 1. A progressive rocking horse comprising a body, rigid rear legs provided with rockers, independently mova le osoillatory front legs pivoted to the forward portion of the body, the rockers being adapted to support the body backwardly tilted with the-front legs raised from the floor, and the front legs being adapted to support the body forwar y tilted with the rockers raised /from the floor, and means 0 rative when r th body is tilted backward or projecting the front legs either singly-=01- simultane ously to causea forward movement of the rocliderswhen thebody is again tilted forwar nga body rear legs rovided with /rockers,' in ependently mova le oscillatory front legs pivoted to the forward portion of the body, the rockers bein adapted to support the body backwardly tfited with the Jfront legs raised from the door, and the body forwardly tilte raised from the floor, and means 0 erat1ve front legs being ada ted to support the with the rockers forward, the front legs being normally held retracted toward the roclrers.

3..Aprogressive rock ng horse comprising a body, rigid rear legs provided with rockers, independently movable oscillatory front legs pivoted to the forward portion of'thebody, the rockers being adapted to support the body backwardly tilted with the front legs raised from the floor, and the front le S being adapted to support the body forwar ly tilted with the rockers raised from the floor, and means operative when the body is tilted backward for projecting the front legs either singly or simultaneously to cause 'a forward movement of the rockers when the body is again tilted forward, the front legs being provided with rockers adapted to cooperate with the rockers on the rear legs. l

4. A- progressive rocking horse comprising a body, rigid rear legs provided with rockers, oscillatoryfront legs pivoted to the forward portionv of the body, the rockers.

bein adapted to support the body backwardly tilted with the out legs raised from the floor, and the frdnt legs being adapted to support the body forwardly tilted with the rockers raised from the floor, the front legs 7 being independently movable, and means-controlled by the rider and operative when the body is tilted backward for selectively projecting one leg only and thereby guiding the horse laterally, said means being adapted to simultaneously project both legs and thereby cause a straight ahead movement.

5. A progressive rocking horse comprising a body, rigid rear legs provided with rockers oscillatory front legs pivoted to the forward portion of the body, the rockers being adapted to support the body bachwardly tilted with the front legs raised from the door, and the front legs being adapted to support the body forwardly tilted with the rockers raised from the floor the front legs being independently movable, reins a ranged to be puiled by the rider, and connections between said reins and the front legs, the arrangement being such that both front legs may be simultaneously projected,

p or either leg projected alone by said reins. 2. A. progressive rocking horse compris the floor, and the front legs being adapted to support the body forwardly tilted with the rockers raised from the floor, the front legs being independently movable,reins arranged to be pulled by the rider, a pair of twoarined levers fulcrumed on the head portion of the body and connected with said reins, and connections between said levers and the front legs.

7. A progressive rocking horse comprising a body, rockable supporting means rigidly connected with the rear portion of the body, oscillatory supporting means pivoted to the front portion of the body and composedof a palr of independently movable front legs, each of said supporting means being adapted to support the body with the other supporting means raised from the floor, and means operative when thebody is tilted backward for projecting the front legs either singly or simultaneously.

8. A progressive rocking horse comprising a body, rockable supporting means rigidly connected with the rear portion of the body, oscillatory supporting means pivoted to the front portion of the backwardly tilted, and independently movable oscillatory front legs pivoted to the forward portion of the body and adapted to support the body forwardly tilted, the

front legs being normally held retracted toward the rockers and movable forward by the rider either simultaneously or independently to cause a progressive movement of the horse either 1n a straight path or a curved path.

10.. A progressive rocking-horse compris-' ing a body, rockable supporting means rigidly connected with the rear portion of the body, oscillatory supporting means pivoted to the front portion of the body, each of said supporting means being adapted to support the body with the other supporting means raised from the floor, and the oscillatory supporting means being adapted to be swung forward when the body istilted backward, and antifriction rollers mounted on the rockable supporting means and adapted to bear on the fioo'r iwhen the body 'is tilted forward. l i

11. A progressive rocking horse comprising a body, rigid rear legs provided with rockers adapted to support the body backwardly tilted, and oscillatory front legs pivoted to the forward portion of the body and adapted to support the body forwardly tilted, the front legs being normally held retracted yieldinglyitoward the rockers and movable forward by }the rider when the body is tilted backward, to cause a progressive movement of the horse.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my 4 signature.

' JOHN F. WILKINSON. 

